A former child star has fallen deeply in love with her much younger spouse, who has expressed the same feelings toward her. The pair has always maintained their connection in the face of criticism.
Actress Juliet Mills, 82, has been happily married for more than 40 years to a man who is over 20 years her junior. At one point, many questioned whether their love would last given their stark age difference.
Juliet Mills attends “The Sixth Reel” screening at the 2021 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival on August 19, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Both of them work in the entertainment business; Mills signed a contract with Warner Brothers and made her cinematic debut first. She played little parts in comedies including “Carry on Jack” (1964) and “Nurse on Wheels” (1963).
But it wasn’t until 1966—when she costarred in the western “The Rare Breed” with James Stewart and Maureen O’Hara—that she started to really become noticed.
On the set of “The Rare Breed,” 1966, Juliet Mills and James Stewart | Source: Getty Images
Mills landed her first major role in the TV show “Nanny and the Professor” in 1970. After just two seasons, ABC canceled the sitcom despite its rapid growth in popularity.
In an interview conducted decades after the end of the comedy series, the actress talked about her favorite childhood recollections. “I have incredibly good recollections of it and am really proud of it. It’s amazing that I’m still acknowledged everywhere for it more than anything else I’ve ever done,” Mills remarked.
Juliet Mills in 1970 on the set of “The Professor and the Nanny” | Image source: Getty Images
Mills, who was nominated for her first Tony Award at the age of 18, revealed that she is frequently recognized by her voice alone and gets turned around, with people exclaiming, “Hey, Nanny!” She thinks it was a family program that made people happy and left them with lasting memories.
Pictured from Getty Images in 1970, Kim Richards, David Doremus, and Juliet Mills on the set of “Nanny and the Professor”
Through her acting career, the former child star got to know her future husband, Maxwell Caulfield, who was at the time a budding actor. In “Grease 2,” Caulfield made his screen debut. Later, he performed on stage with his future wife, Mills, in an award-winning production of “The Elephant Man,” which was touring the United States.
Maxwell Caulfield in a press photo for the 1982 motion picture “Grease 2” | Source: Getty Images
He played John Merrick in the play, a man whose terrible facial deformities gave rise to the cruel nickname mentioned in the play’s title, and Mills played Mrs. Kendal, the actress who becomes friends with him.
She described meeting Caulfield as “love at first sight” in an interview, saying, “We were instant friends, immediately attracted.” They felt as though they had known one other in a past life, she said.
Julie Mills and Maxwell Caulfield at “Grease II’s” 1982 New York premiere | Source: Getty Images
Caulfield concurred in the same interview, describing their love as “full-blown” and mentioning a strong mental bond, saying, “It was instantaneous for us both.” Mills’ friend Natalie Wood had invited them to attend Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal” on Broadway, and that was their first date.
Seated between Mills and the renowned Wood, who had starred in both “West Side Story” and “Rebel Without a Cause,” Caulfield remembered the encounter as bizarre.
On the set of “Hotel,” 1987, Julie Mills and Maxwell Caulfield | Source: Getty Images
Many people didn’t think Caulfield and Mills’ 1980 marriage would last when they were just 21 years old. The pair avoided trouble despite their age difference making news.
Mills clarified that they never concerned about the age gap because they lived in California, where the news didn’t receive much attention. Not even those close to them, such as Mills’ father, thought it was a problem.
Juliet Mills and Maxwell Caulfield during “Out of Africa”‘s 1985 Los Angeles premiere | Source: Getty Images
He merely said, “It’s irrelevant,” when she told him about her past romantic involvement. It’s a soulmate when you find someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, regardless of their color, age, or other characteristics.
On October 20, 1985, Maxwell Caulfield and Juliet Mills attended a Gala Dinner Honoring Aaron Spelling. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
And I discovered that. We’ve now silenced our detractors,” Mills remarked. Having been married twice before, the actress never felt particularly older than Caulfield. He was her best friend, passionate, and protective, according to her.
Even the wedding was planned by Caulfield, who orchestrated a sunrise ceremony at Point Dume in Malibu, California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and a small-scale celebration at Mills’ Beverly Hills residence.
He created a mystical ambiance by decorating the house with fairy lights and archways. He made an equally passionate proposal, releasing two doves from his tuxedo pockets. “She brings out the romantic in me,” observed Caulfield.
The actor acknowledged in a recent interview that he stays young because of his 44-year wife. The couple went to the traditional #ENOCarousel in April 2017. Great conviction from @AlfieBoe & @KathJenkins, vocals not 2 shabby either! Caulfield expressed his feelings online. exquisite theater
He also shared a happy picture of the two on X, and people couldn’t stop gushing over how much they liked each other. “What a beautiful picture!” someone said. A different person expressed a similar thought: “You two look amazing!”
Back in December 2013, Caulfield posted another snapshot of the happy couple and wrote, “Right side up!” One person complimented them writing, “A Lovely couple [sic].”
Mills and Caulfield have defied the odds, proving that love can thrive despite an age gap and public scrutiny. Their enduring bond serves as a testament to true companionship and romance.
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